Coaching in the NBA can be a dangerous job (2024)

CHARLOTTE, N.C.CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Charles Oakley, one of the NBA’s all-time tough guys, doesn’t want to talk about his excruciating back pain.

“I’m good,” the Charlotte Bobcats assistant said recently before brushing off further questions.

Yet one quick look at Oakley shows he’s not. He hasn’t returned to the bench since having to be carried from the court before a game in San Antonio last month with a sciatic nerve problem that’s made it difficult to walk.

“He’s not doing too good right now,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said Thursday.

The 47-year-old Oakley is the latest example of an NBA coach walking the fine line of teaching from the sidelines and hands-on instruction.

There’s plenty of other harsh examples, ranging from Patrick Ewing’s broken foot to Nate McMillan’s ruptured Achilles’ tendon to the sight of Bobcats owner Michael Jordan icing both knees after practicing with his team.

“It catches up with you. I’ve been through that. You forget,” said Golden State coach Keith Smart, who when he was an assistant regularly banged with players. “It gets to the point where your body tells you that can’t do it anymore but your mind tells you that you can. So you start having the pains players are having, but you’re older.”

According to STATS LLC, Oakley is one of 17 former All-Stars serving as assistants in the NBA. Many of them feel they can still do some of what made them great. And until recently, the fit and strong Oakley looked like he could suit up and give the Bobcats 20 solid minutes.

Oakley, who claims the NBA’s beefed-up flagrant fouls rules were in response to the hard fouls he committed during his playing days, consistently tangled with Kwame Brown and Charlotte’s other big men in intense workouts. Oakley has been credited with helping Brown have one of his best seasons.

“He really gets after it with those big guys and makes them work,” Bobcats forward Stephen Jackson said.

It’s uncertain if Oakley’s injury is directly due to banging in practice. But seeing one of the NBA’s top enforcers being in too much pain to walk was a cruel example of aging.

“I learned my lesson early. Oak, he still tries to play,” said the 48-year-old Ewing, an Orlando assistant, Hall of Famer and Oakley’s former teammate in New York. “I’m too old to go out there and try to mix it up with them. I stay away from that.”

There’s a reason. Ewing broke his foot a few years ago while working out with the Magic. When Portland had so many injuries last season and didn’t have enough players for a 5-on-5 scrimmage, the 46-year-old McMillan took to the floor. The Trail Blazers coach promptly ruptured his Achilles’ tendon.

“Unless you want to go to an orthopedic surgeon, you don’t want to practice,” Knicks assistant Herb Williams said, laughing. “I don’t know if it’s the elasticity or the strength in your joints and then that’s when you end up getting injured. You’ve got to be careful.

“If I was to go out here and play with one of these guys, I wouldn’t be jumping up in the air, trying to do all kinds of crazy stuff. Everything I would be doing would be on the floor.”

Yet the ability of former players to work with current ones can be invaluable. Ewing helped tutor Dwight Howard early in his career. Jordan’s presence always ratchets up the intensity at Bobcats practice. Rookie John Wall has spent countless hours going up against Washington assistant and former All-Star point guard Sam Cassell this season.

“He gets banged up a little bit, but you hope that ex-players can keep on playing,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders said of Cassell. “I’m a firm believer that you want to keep your coaches, everyone, in shape. Coaching takes a toll on your body, whether the stress, the travel or everything else. They need to be active.”

But Saunders also noted the 41-year-old Cassell, in his second year as a coach, is still adjusting to a much different role.

“I still have to get on him because he has to understand he’s not still a player,” Saunders said. “That’s always the big adjustment for guys that have played in the league. But he’s learning as a coach and I think the players are learning from him.”

And as injuries and fatigue mount late in a grueling season, an energetic assistant who can push players can help boost a team.

“I hold my own,” said Minnesota’s Darrick Martin, who turned 40 last month. “I probably surprise them a little bit every now and then.”

Yet there’s a fine line to how far you can go. Watching Oakley walk gingerly with shooting pain that’s moved from his lower back to his legs is the hard-to-watch proof.

“He says the pain has gone to his knee,” Silas said. “Hopefully, he can resolve that and get better. But right now he’s struggling.”

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York; Associated Press Writer Paul J. Weber in San Antonio and AP Sports Writers Colin Fly in Milwaukee, Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and Anne M. Peterson in Portland, Ore., contributed to this report.

Originally Published:

Coaching in the NBA can be a dangerous job (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to become a coach in the NBA? ›

Becoming a basketball coach requires dedication and patience, but it has never been easier thanks to the wealth of resources at your disposal. Everyone has to start somewhere, but with enough hard work and focus, you could find yourself coaching in the big leagues one day!

How much do NBA coaches get paid? ›

Ranking The Highest-Paid Coaches in the NBA
RankCoachCompensation
1Steve Kerr$17.5 million
2Gregg Popovich$16 million
3Erik Spoelstra$15 million
4Monty Williams$13 million
17 more rows
Jun 11, 2024

What is the role of the coach in the NBA? ›

Coaching Strategy. A coach's job is to draw up plays and implement systems for the offense and defense. These strategies can mean the difference between winning and losing a game. An offensive coach that is playing against a zone defense needs to create a play for his team to score.

Is coaching really effective? ›

Creates new positive neural networks

Scientific research has revealed that the right coaching can lead to clients developing new positive neural networks in their brain that replaces their negative thought processes and enables them to be more creative and deal with stress easier.

What sport does coaching matter most? ›

Coaches matter more in college football than in the pros. They significantly affect points scored, points allowed, point differential and victories. Coaches are highly significant in both NBA and Division I college basketball outcomes, influencing points scored, points allowed, point differential and victories.

Do NBA coaches make a lot? ›

NBA Coaches Salary: How Much Do NBA Coaches Make? The average salary for an NBA head coach is approximately $3.5 million, with the lowest paid still securing a minimum of $2 million per year. Here's a list of the top seven highest-paid NBA coaches in the 2024 season.

How many hours do NBA coaches work? ›

Typical Work Schedule

Coaches at the college or professional level work full-time, and often work well over 40 hours a week. This is especially true during the basketball season.

What makes a good NBA coach? ›

They are empathetic. Top NBA coaches and great leaders bring out the best in their team by treating them as multidimensional persons. They understand that every individual's performance could be affected by his personal life, so they get to know each of their players on a personal level to adapt to their needs.

Who is the lowest paid NBA player? ›

Mouhamed Gyueye is currently the lowest-paid NBA player in the NBA this term. The Senegalese player was the 39th pick in the 2023 draft. Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, he saw his rights traded to the Boston Celtics, who dealt him to the Atlanta Hawks.

Who is the richest coach in the NBA? ›

The highest-paid NBA coach ever is Steve Kerr. Kerr's new deal makes him the highest paid coach in league history at $17.5 million a year.

Do NBA coaches need a degree? ›

Although there is no minimum education requirement to become a professional basketball coach, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) states that many coaches start their careers at the high school or collegiate level (www.bls.gov). A bachelor's degree may be required for these positions.

Do coaches matter in the NBA? ›

We apply RIFLE to the MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, college football, and college basketball. We detect coaching effects in all sports. Our estimates generally imply that coaches explain about 20-30 percent of the variation in a team's success, although coaching effects vary notably across settings and across various outcomes.

How are NBA coaches chosen? ›

The decision of who will be a team's head coach is ultimately up to the owner and general manager of each team. However, some teams may consult with their players before making a final decision on who will be their next head coach.

What skills do you need to be a NBA coach? ›

What are the most important Basketball Coach job skills to have on my resume? The most common important skills required by employers are Scheduling, Fundraising, Games, Communication Skills, Technical, Youth Worker and Collaboration.

How much does an NBA coach matter? ›

"We found that coaches across basketball, football, baseball, and hockey account for something like 20-30% of the variation in their team's success." sloanreview.mit.edu/audio/how-much…

Does the NBA need coaches? ›

There are currently three teams in the league with head coaching vacancies: the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and the Washington Wizards. The Charlotte Hornets just recently hired their head coach.

Does coaching make a difference? ›

Our estimates generally imply that coaches explain about 20-30 percent of the variation in a team's success, although coaching effects vary notably across settings and across various outcomes.

Can a good player be a good coach? ›

Coaches may have experience playing, but not all former athletes make good coaches. Coaches must plan for the season, know the progressive nature of training adaptation, know the rules, and provide a simple, structured environment for athletes to succeed.

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